The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-14
Fees and Salaries.

70 the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
The question of regulation of fees and salaries
is now before the Legislature, and the regula-
ton of the question spoken of is earnestly de-
sired by the people. The regulation required is
reduction of salaries where too high and to abol-
ish the fee system. The manner of disposing
of this question heretofore has been reduction
of salary and endless schedule of fees, bring
ing in vast income to the lucky ofice-holder.
The judicial officer receives fixed salary of
So 500 per annum for compensation Suppose
there would be added to his salary fee
for each case entered on the docket, and that
would amount to 81, 900, making an income to
the judge Of &c. 500 While the Judge has man
aged to live comfortably on the $500, it GER
tainly would not be necessary to increase his
ton on the people. The Circuit judge has as
much labor to perform as any county officer,
while that officer is not compensated by fees.
Why not bring the county Offices under the
salary systems The fee system is one that is
blunt; there is no certainty of telling whether or
not all fees charged are just With 81, 800 for
county clerk, $1,000 for auditor and
treasurer is sufficient remuneration for
yearly income. There many
bright men with an income OF $1,000 a year,
who have nice homes and, by respectable econ
omv, have surplus. Then the various county
Offices could be supplied with competent depu-
ties at $40 and $50 per month out of funds indie
pendent of the officers salary. The present per-
nicious fee system scattered to the four winds
would be money in the pockets of all tax payers.
One term OF Office brings man into possession
of means that would take lifetime to make by
the shrewdest and most economical in business.
In a county of twenty to twenty-five thousand
population one term of Office of auditor
would be about sixteen to twenty thou
sand dollars; treasurer, ten to twelve Thousand
dallars; clerk, sixteen to twenty thousand
dollars. What class of men make this enormous
amount in the period of two to four years.
There being no anxiety. no wear and tear, no di
vision of profits, for it is all profit. What does
| it profit q legislator to ignore the wishes of q
/ constituency? Is not one legislative term the
! ending of many legislators? This mysterious
| fee system is going to be completely eradicated
| and moderate salaries substituted. If tho ques
/ tion of doing away with the fees and reduction
! of salaries we're put to the voters, the people
| would today, the future day, revolutionizt
| the manner of enriching officials and radically
change the drift of things, and establish noder
| ate remuneration.
| When the question is raised in relation to reg
| ulation of fees and salaries the Legislature il
besieged with a horde OF lobbyists from all owe
/ the State, made up of county officials or proxies
! who manage to lobby successfully in regulating
| the fees and salaries TO an increase. With nine
ty-two counties and three representatives iron
| each county would make invading lobby o
ZIG, strong, to bssiege the Legislature, whic
| would outrank that body in point OF number
The people are alive to this question, and will a
no distant day realize the much-neaded change
Let the Legislature without fear or favor, enac
. law that 10 right and just W. Il. GARvEN.
NoBLEsvILLE Feb. 9.